The route of the Road Race at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Qatar is completely flat. So chances are it will be up to the fast men. Who is likely to turn out on top? Cyclingstage.com takes a look at the favourites to win the rainbow jersey in the streets of Doha.(Slideshow route/profile)

Looking at his performance in the last two editions of the Tour of Qatar Alexander Kristoff is the man to beat. The Norwegian powered to the win in six out of eleven stages. That said, good old Tom Boonen is record holder, winning 22 stages in the history of the race. Yet, the former World Champion celebrated his last Qatari victory in 2014.

The Belgians come with a strong squad and will want to make the race hard, which is to the advantage of Boonen himself and Olympic Champion Greg Van Avermaet. Peter Sagan won’t mind a hard race either.

Pure sprinters like Cav, Kittel, Gaviria and Bouhanni must be pleased to enter at the 15.2 kilometres city circuit in Doha, that’s to be raced seven times. No strong winds here, in constrast to the first part of the race which is played out in the open desert.